The mission of the Mid-Hudson Vegetarian Society, Inc. is to
promote the vegetarian ethic in the Mid-Hudson (New York) region, educate the community
and aid anyone in the pursuit of a totally vegetarian (vegan) cruelty-free and healthful
lifestyle.

NewslettersFall 2001 Issue

News Briefs:

Was Mozart "Porked" to Death?

A CNN internet report of June 12, 2001 raises the issue thatpork cutlets may have killed the composer Wolfgang AmadeusMozart.

This theory, which was offered by physician Jan. V.Hirschmannof Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle,Washington, claims that Mozartís death on December 5, 1791at the age of 35 was due to trichinosis.

According to Dr.Hirschmann, Mozart must have contracted the disease fromeating undercooked pork infested by the worm. This wouldexplain all of Mozartís symptoms, said Dr.Hirschmann Ė whichincluded fever, rash, limb pain and swelling. He offers asdamning evidence an innocuous seeming letter that Mozartwrote to his wife 44 days before his illness. "What do I smell?Pork cutlets! Che Gusto (What a delicious taste). I eat to yourhealth," Mozart wrote.